Béla II the Blind (Hungarian: II. (Vak) Béla, Croatian: Bela I., Slovak: Belo II), (c. 1110 – 13 February 1141), King of Hungary and Croatia (1131-1141). Still as a child, Béla was blinded by his uncle, King Coloman who wanted to ensure the succession of his own son, the future King Stephen II. During his childhood, Béla lived in different monasteries of the kingdom till the childless King Stephen II invited him to his court. Following King Stephen's death, Béla ascended the throne, but during his reign he had continously struggle with King Coloman's alleged son, Boris who tried to acquire the crown with the military assistance of the neighbouring countries.

Béla was the only son of Duke Álmos, the younger brother of King Coloman of Hungary. His mother was Predslava of Kiev. Duke Álmos led several rebellions against his brother, but finally, he and Béla were blinded in 1115. Father and son were living together in the Premonstratensian Monastery of Dömös till 1126, when Duke Álmos tried to organise a conspiracy against King Stephen II, King Coloman's son and heir, but he failed and had to escape to the Byzantine Empire. Following his father's escape, Béla was taken secretly to the Monastery of Pécsvárad by his father's partisans.

In 1128, after the death of Duke Álmos, King Stephen was informed that his blind cousin was still living in Hungary, and he invited Béla to his court. Upon the king's request, Béla married Jelena, a daughter of Serbian Duke Uroš I of Raška, and the king granted the couple estates near Tolna.

On 1 March 1131, the childless king died, and on 28 April, Béla was crowned in Székesfehérvár, although King Stephen II had designated his sister's son, Saul his successor in 1126, but Saul had died before his uncle, or Béla's partisans managed to defeat him.

Marriage and children

Helena of Raška (after 1109 – after 1146), daughter of duke Uroš I of Raška and his wife, Anna

Elisabeth (c. 1129 – before 1155), wife of duke Mieszko III of Poland

King Géza II of Hungary (c. 1130 – 3 May 1162)

King Ladislaus II of Hungary (1131 – 14 January 1163)

King Stephen IV of Hungary (c. 1133 – 11 April 1165)

Sophia (c. 1136 – ?), nun at Admont

Béla II the Blind (Hungarian: II. (Vak) Béla, Slovak: Belo II, Croatian: Bela II.), (c. 1110 – 13 February 1141), King of Hungary[1] (1131-1141). Still as a child, Béla was blinded by his uncle, King Coloman who wanted to ensure the succession of his own son, the future King Stephen II. During his childhood, Béla lived in different monasteries of the kingdom till the childless King Stephen II invited him to his court. Following King Stephen's death, Béla ascended the throne, but during his reign he had continuously struggle with King Coloman's alleged son, Boris who tried to acquire the crown with the military assistance of the neighbouring countries.

Contents [hide]

1 Early years

2 Struggles with Boris

3 His policy

4 Marriage and children

5 Ancestors

6 Titles

7 References

8 Sources

[edit] Early years

Béla was the only son of Duke Álmos, the younger brother of King Coloman of Hungary. His mother was Predslava of Kiev. Duke Álmos led several rebellions against his brother, but finally, he and Béla were blinded in 1115. Father and son were living together in the Premonstratensian Monastery of Dömös till 1126, when Duke Álmos tried to organise a conspiracy against King Stephen II, King Coloman's son and heir, but he failed and had to escape to the Byzantine Empire. Following his father's escape, Béla was taken secretly to the Monastery of Pécsvárad by his father's partisans.

In 1128, after the death of Duke Álmos, King Stephen was informed that his blind cousin was still living in Hungary, and he invited Béla to his court. Upon the king's request, Béla married Jelena, a daughter of Serbian Duke Uroš I of Raška, and the king granted the couple estates near Tolna.

On 1 March 1131, the childless king died, and on 28 April, Béla was crowned in Székesfehérvár, although King Stephen II had designated his sister's son, Saul his successor in 1126, but Saul had died before his uncle, or Béla's partisans managed to defeat him.

[edit] Struggles with Boris

As Béla was blind, his wife played a decisive role in governing his kingdom. Shortly after ascending the throne, Queen Helena ordered the massacre of the people she considered responsible for her husband's blinding at an assembly in Arad. She implaced her brother, Beloš, as the count palatine, giving him supreme command over the Hungarian Army and a commendable place in the Hungarian Royal Court.

Béla's entire reign was overshadowed by a conflict with Boris, a son of King Coloman of doubtful legitimacy, in which Boris was supported by Poland and Rus'. In 1132, King Boleslaus III of Poland led a campaign with Rus' and Polish troops on Boris' behalf. When Béla were informed that the Polish and Rus' armies entered to Hungary, he assembled a meeting of the barons where all the participants were killed who did not want to declare Boris bastard. King Boleslaus and Boris were defeated near the Sajó River on 22 July, but Boris was to prove a persistent claimant for a number of years to come.

[edit] His policy

Béla's reign was notable for his foreign policy - his sister Hedwig was married to a son of Margrave Leopold III of Austria and another sister to Duke Sobeslav I of Bohemia, thereby allying Hungary with two previously inimical states. His brothers-in-law convinced Emperor Lothair III, who had been struggling against Poland, to include into the terms of the Peace of Merseburg with Boleslaw III that the Polish king would not support Boris against Béla any more.

In 1136, Béla managed to recover parts of Dalmatia from the control of the Republic of Venice, and sent an expedition into Bosnia. In 1137, he gave the title of Duke of Bosnia, with acceptance from the entire country, to his younger son Ladislaus.

Béla died from the effects of an overindulgence of alcohol.

[edit] Marriage and children

c. 1129: Helena of Raška (after 1109 – after 1146), daughter of duke Uroš I of Raška and his wife, Anna

Béla II the Blind (Hungarian: II. (Vak) Béla, Croatian: Bela I., Slovak: Belo II), (c. 1110 – 13 February 1141), King of Hungary and Croatia (1131-1141). Still as a child, Béla was blinded by his uncle, King Coloman who wanted to ensure the succession of his own son, the future King Stephen II. During his childhood, Béla lived in diferrent monasteries of the kingdom till the childless King Stephen II invited him to his court. Following King Stephen's death, Béla ascended the throne, but during his reign he had continously struggle with King Coloman's alleged son, Boris who tried to acquire the crown with the military assistance of the neighbouring countries.

Early years

Béla was the only son of Duke Álmos, the younger brother of King Coloman of Hungary. His mother was Predslava of Kiev. Duke Álmos led several rebellions against his brother, but finally, he and Béla were blinded in 1115. Father and son were living together in the Premonstratensian Monastery of Dömös till 1126, when Duke Álmos tried to organise a conspiracy against King Stephen II, King Coloman's son and heir, but he failed and had to escape to the Byzantine Empire. Following his father's escape, Béla was taken secretly to the Monastery of Pécsvárad by his father's partisans.

In 1128, after the death of Duke Álmos, King Stephen was informed that his blind cousin was still living in Hungary, and he invited Béla to his court. Upon the king's request, Béla married Jelena, a daughter of Serbian Duke Uroš I of Raška, and the king granted the couple estates near Tolna.

On 1 March 1131, the childless king died, and on 28 April, Béla was crowned in Székesfehérvár, although King Stephen II had designated his sister's son, Saul his successor in 1126, but Saul had died before his uncle, or Béla's partisans managed to defeat him.

Struggles with Boris

As Béla was blind, his wife played a decisive role in governing his kingdom. Shortly after ascending the throne, Queen Helena ordered the massacre of the people she considered responsible for her husband's blinding at an assembly in Arad. She implaced her brother, Beloš, as the count palatine, giving him supreme command over the Hungarian Army and a commendable place in the Hungarian Royal Court.

Béla's entire reign was overshadowed by a conflict with Boris, a son of King Coloman of doubtful legitimacy, in which Boris was supported by Poland and Rus'. In 1132, King Boleslaus III of Poland led a campaign with Rus' and Polish troops on Boris' behalf. When Béla were informed that the Polish and Rus' armies entered to Hungary, he assembled a meeting of the barons where all the participants were killed who did not want to declare Boris bastard. King Boleslaus and Boris were defeated near the Sajó River on 22 July, but Boris was to prove a persistent claimant for a number of years to come.

His policy

Béla's reign was notable for his foreign policy - his sister Hedwig was married to a son of Margrave Leopold III of Austria and another sister to Duke Sobeslav I of Bohemia, thereby allying Hungary with two previously inimical states. His brothers-in-law convinced Emperor Lothair III, who had been struggling against Poland, to include into the terms of the Peace of Merseburg with Boleslaw III that the Polish king would not support Boris against Béla any more.

In 1136, Béla managed to recover parts of Dalmatia from the control of the Republic of Venice, and sent an expedition into Bosnia. In 1137, he gave the title of Duke of Bosnia, with acceptance from the entire country, to his younger son Ladislaus.

Béla died from the effects of an overindulgence of alcohol.

[edit]Marriage and children

c. 1129: Helena of Raška (after 1109 – after 1146), daughter of duke Uroš I of Raška and his wife, Anna

Elisabeth (c. 1129 – before 1155), wife of duke Mieszko III of Poland

King Géza II of Hungary (c. 1130 – 3 May 1162)

King Ladislaus II of Hungary (1131 – 14 January 1163)

King Stephen IV of Hungary (c. 1133 – 11 April 1165)

Sophia (c. 1136 – ?), nun at Admont

Ancestors

Sources

Engel, Pat. Realm of St. Stephen : A History of Medieval Hungary, 2001

Béla II the Blind (Hungarian: II. (Vak) Béla, Slovak: Belo II, Croatian: Bela II.), (c. 1110 – 13 February 1141), King of Hungary (1131-1141). Still as a child, Béla was blinded by his uncle, King Coloman who wanted to ensure the succession of his own son, the future King Stephen II. During his childhood, Béla lived in different monasteries of the kingdom till the childless King Stephen II invited him to his court. Following King Stephen's death, Béla ascended the throne, but during his reign he had continuously struggle with King Coloman's alleged son, Boris who tried to acquire the crown with the military assistance of the neighbouring countries.

Early years

Béla was the only son of Duke Álmos, the younger brother of King Coloman of Hungary. His mother was Predslava of Kiev. Duke Álmos led several rebellions against his brother, but finally, he and Béla were blinded in 1115. Father and son were living together in the Premonstratensian Monastery of Dömös till 1126, when Duke Álmos tried to organise a conspiracy against King Stephen II, King Coloman's son and heir, but he failed and had to escape to the Byzantine Empire. Following his father's escape, Béla was taken secretly to the Monastery of Pécsvárad by his father's partisans.

In 1128, after the death of Duke Álmos, King Stephen was informed that his blind cousin was still living in Hungary, and he invited Béla to his court. Upon the king's request, Béla married Jelena, a daughter of Serbian Duke Uroš I of Raška, and the king granted the couple estates near Tolna.

On 1 March 1131, the childless king died, and on 28 April, Béla was crowned in Székesfehérvár, although King Stephen II had designated his sister's son, Saul his successor in 1126, but Saul had died before his uncle, or Béla's partisans managed to defeat him.

Struggles with Boris

As Béla was blind, his wife played a decisive role in governing his kingdom. Shortly after ascending the throne, Queen Helena ordered the massacre of the people she considered responsible for her husband's blinding at an assembly in Arad. She implaced her brother, Beloš, as the count palatine, giving him supreme command over the Hungarian Army and a commendable place in the Hungarian Royal Court.

Béla's entire reign was overshadowed by a conflict with Boris, a son of King Coloman of doubtful legitimacy, in which Boris was supported by Poland and Rus'. In 1132, King Boleslaus III of Poland led a campaign with Rus' and Polish troops on Boris' behalf. When Béla were informed that the Polish and Rus' armies entered to Hungary, he assembled a meeting of the barons where all the participants were killed who did not want to declare Boris bastard. King Boleslaus and Boris were defeated near the Sajó River on 22 July, but Boris was to prove a persistent claimant for a number of years to come.

His policy

Béla's reign was notable for his foreign policy - his sister Hedwig was married to a son of Margrave Leopold III of Austria and another sister to Duke Sobeslav I of Bohemia, thereby allying Hungary with two previously inimical states. His brothers-in-law convinced Emperor Lothair III, who had been struggling against Poland, to include into the terms of the Peace of Merseburg with Boleslaw III that the Polish king would not support Boris against Béla any more.

In 1136, Béla managed to recover parts of Dalmatia from the control of the Republic of Venice, and sent an expedition into Bosnia. In 1137, he gave the title of Duke of Bosnia, with acceptance from the entire country, to his younger son Ladislaus.

Béla died from the effects of an overindulgence of alcohol.

Marriage and children

c. 1129: Helena of Raška (after 1109 – after 1146), daughter of duke Uroš I of Raška and his wife, Anna

Elisabeth (c. 1129 – before 1155), wife of duke Mieszko III of Poland

King Géza II of Hungary (c. 1130 – 3 May 1162)

King Ladislaus II of Hungary (1131 – 14 January 1163)

King Stephen IV of Hungary (c. 1133 – 11 April 1165)

Sophia (c. 1136 – ?), nun at Admont

Béla II the Blind (Hungarian : II. (Vak) Béla, Slovak : Belo II, Croatian : Bela II.), (c. 1110 – 13 February 1141), King of Hungary (1131-1141). Still as a child, Béla was blinded by his uncle, King Coloman who wanted to ensure the succession of his own son, the future King Stephen II. During his childhood, Béla lived in different monasteries of the kingdom till the childless King Stephen II invited him to his court. Following King Stephen's death, Béla ascended the throne, but during his reign he had continuously struggle with King Coloman's alleged son, Boris who tried to acquire the crown with the military assistance of the neighbouring countries.

Béla was the only son of Duke Álmos , the younger brother of King Coloman of Hungary . His mother was Predslava of Kiev . Duke Álmos led several rebellions against his brother, but finally, he and Béla were blinded in 1115. Father and son were living together in the Premonstratensian Monastery of Dömös till 1126, when Duke Álmos tried to organise a conspiracy against King Stephen II , King Coloman's son and heir, but he failed and had to escape to the Byzantine Empire . Following his father's escape, Béla was taken secretly to the Monastery of Pécsvárad by his father's partisans.

In 1128, after the death of Duke Álmos, King Stephen was informed that his blind cousin was still living in Hungary, and he invited Béla to his court. Upon the king's request, Béla married Jelena , a daughter of Serbian Duke Uroš I of Raška , and the king granted the couple estates near Tolna.

On 1 March 1131, the childless king died, and on 28 April, Béla was crowned in Székesfehérvár , although King Stephen II had designated his sister's son, Saul his successor in 1126, but Saul had died before his uncle, or Béla's partisans managed to defeat him.

Struggles with Boris

As Béla was blind, his wife played a decisive role in governing his kingdom. Shortly after ascending the throne, Queen Helena ordered the massacre of the people she considered responsible for her husband's blinding at an assembly in Arad . She implaced her brother, Beloš, as the count palatine, giving him supreme command over the Hungarian Army and a commendable place in the Hungarian Royal Court.

Béla's entire reign was overshadowed by a conflict with Boris , a son of King Coloman of doubtful legitimacy, in which Boris was supported by Poland and Rus' . In 1132, King Boleslaus III of Poland led a campaign with Rus' and Polish troops on Boris' behalf. When Béla were informed that the Polish and Rus' armies entered to Hungary, he assembled a meeting of the barons where all the participants were killed who did not want to declare Boris bastard. King Boleslaus and Boris were defeated near the Sajó River on 22 July, but Boris was to prove a persistent claimant for a number of years to come.

His policy

Béla's reign was notable for his foreign policy - his sister Hedwig was married to a son of Margrave Leopold III of Austria and another sister to Duke Sobeslav I of Bohemia , thereby allying Hungary with two previously inimical states. His brothers-in-law convinced Emperor Lothair III , who had been struggling against Poland, to include into the terms of the Peace of Merseburg t with Boleslaw III that the Polish king would not support Boris against Béla any more.

In 1136, Béla managed to recover parts of Dalmatia from the control of the Republic of Venice , and sent an expedition into Bosnia . In 1137, he gave the title of Duke of Bosnia, with acceptance from the entire country, to his younger son Ladislaus.

Béla died from the effects of an overindulgence of alcohol.

Marriage and children

1129: Helena of Raška (after 1109 – after 1146), daughter of duke Uroš I of Raška and his wife, Anna

Béla II the Blind (Hungarian: II. (Vak) Béla, Croatian: Bela I., Slovak: Belo II), (c. 1110 – 13 February 1141), King of Hungary and Croatia (1131-1141). Still as a child, Béla was blinded by his uncle, King Coloman who wanted to ensure the succession of his own son, the future King Stephen II. During his childhood, Béla lived in different monasteries of the kingdom till the childless King Stephen II invited him to his court. Following King Stephen's death, Béla ascended the throne, but during his reign he had continously struggle with King Coloman's alleged son, Boris who tried to acquire the crown with the military assistance of the neighbouring countries.

Béla was the only son of Duke Álmos, the younger brother of King Coloman of Hungary. His mother was Predslava of Kiev. Duke Álmos led several rebellions against his brother, but finally, he and Béla were blinded in 1115. Father and son were living together in the Premonstratensian Monastery of Dömös till 1126, when Duke Álmos tried to organise a conspiracy against King Stephen II, King Coloman's son and heir, but he failed and had to escape to the Byzantine Empire. Following his father's escape, Béla was taken secretly to the Monastery of Pécsvárad by his father's partisans.

In 1128, after the death of Duke Álmos, King Stephen was informed that his blind cousin was still living in Hungary, and he invited Béla to his court. Upon the king's request, Béla married Jelena, a daughter of Serbian Duke Uroš I of Raška, and the king granted the couple estates near Tolna.

On 1 March 1131, the childless king died, and on 28 April, Béla was crowned in Székesfehérvár, although King Stephen II had designated his sister's son, Saul his successor in 1126, but Saul had died before his uncle, or Béla's partisans managed to defeat him.

Marriage and children

Helena of Raška (after 1109 – after 1146), daughter of duke Uroš I of Raška and his wife, Anna

Béla II of Hungary From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Béla II II Bela KK.jpg Béla in the Illuminated Chronicle King of Hungary and Croatia Reign 1131–1141 Coronation 28 April 1131 Predecessor Stephen II Successor Géza II Spouse Helena of Rascia more ... Issue Géza II of Hungary Ladislaus II of Hungary Stephen IV of Hungary Sophia Elizabeth of Hungary Dynasty Árpád dynasty Father Álmos of Hungary Mother Predslava of Kiev Born c. 1109 Died 13 February 1141 (aged 31–32) Burial Székesfehérvár Cathedral Béla the Blind (Hungarian: Vak Béla; Croatian: Bela Slijepi; Slovak: Belo Slepý; c. 1109 – 13 February 1141) was King of Hungary and Croatia from 1131. He was blinded along with his rebellious father, Álmos on the order of Álmos's brother, King Coloman of Hungary. Béla grow up in monasteries during the reign of Coloman's son, Stephen II. The childless king arranged Béla's marriage with Helena of Rascia who would actually became her husband's co-ruler throughout his reign. Béla was crowned king at least two month after the death of Stephen II, implying that his ascension to the throne did not happen without opposition. In short, two violent purges were carried out among the partisans of his predecessors in order to strengthen Béla's rule. King Coloman's alleged son, Boris attempted to dethrone Béla, the king and his allies defeated the pretender's troops in 1132. In the second half of Béla's reign, Hungary adopted an active foreign policy. Bosnia and Split seem to have accepted Béla's suzerainty around 1136. Contents [hide] 1 Early years (till 1131) 2 Reign 2.1 Consolidation (1131–1132) 2.2 Expansion (1132–1139) 2.3 Last years (1139–1141) 3 Family 4 References 5 Sources 5.1 Primary sources 5.2 Secondary sources Early years (till 1131)[edit]

Álmos and Béla are blinded

The child Béla and his father, Álmos are blinded on King Coloman's order (from the Illuminated Chronicle) Béla was the only son of Duke Álmos—the younger brother of King Coloman of Hungary—by his wife, Predslava of Kiev.[1] Historians Gyula Kristó and Ferenc Makk write that Béla was born between 1108 and 1110.[2][3] Álmos devised a number of plots to dethrone his brother.[4] In retaliation, the king deprived Álmos of his ducatus or "duchy" between 1105 and 1108. [5][6] For Álmos did not give up his ambitions, King Coloman had him and the child Béla blinded between 1112 and 1115 in order to secure a peaceful succession for his own son, Stephen.[7][4] According to one of the two versions of these events recorded in the Illuminated Chronicle, the king even ordered that Béla should be castrated, but the soldier who was charged with this task refused to execute this order.[3][4] [The] King took the Duke and his infant son Bela and blinded them. He also gave orders that the infant Bela should be castrated. But the man who was instructed to blind them feared God and the sterility of the royal line, and therefore he castrated a dog and brought its testicles to the King. —The Hungarian Illuminated Chronicle[8] Dömös monastery

Ruins of the monastery at Dömös Pécsvárad Abbey

Ruins of the Benedictine Pécsvárad Abbey After their blinding, Álmos resided in the monastery of Dömös which he had been set up.[3] Kristó and Makk write that it is probable that Béla lived together with his father in the monastery.[3][2] The Annales Posonienses relates, that "the child was growing in the reign of King Coloman's son, Stephen" who ascended the throne in 1116.[9] Having hatched an unsuccessful plot against the king, the blind Álmos left the monastery and fled for Constantinople in about 1125.[10][11] For unknown reasons, Béla did not follow his father to the Byzantine Empire.[10] The Illuminated Chronicle narrates that he was kept "concealed in Hungary from the fury"[12] of the king.[10] Béla settled in the Pécsvárad Abbey whose abbot gave shelter to him in secret.[10] Álmos died in exile on 1 September 1127.[13] In short, Béla's partisans "revealed to the King, who believed him to have died after his blinding, that Béla was alive",[12] according to the Illuminated Chronicle.[10] On hearing this, continues the same source, King Stephen II "rejoiced with great joice, for he knew beyond doubt that he would have no heir".[12][10] The king even arranged Béla's marriage with Helena of Rascia and granted Tolna to the couple around 1129.[14][15] The childless king died in the spring of 1131.[15] A late source[which?] narrates that Béla ascended the throne after his predecessor's nephew, Saul—whom Stephen II had nominated as his heir—had died.[16] Béla II was only crowned in Székesfehérvár on 28 April, substantiating the reliability of this report.[10] However, no scholarly consensus exists on the exact circumstances of Béla's ascension. According to Gyula Kristó, Béla was crowned after a civil war between his and Saul's partisans, but Pál Engel does not write of any conflict related to Béla's succession.[10][17] Reign[edit]

Consolidation (1131–1132)[edit] Assembly at Arad

Massacre of Béla II's opponents on the orders of Queen Helena at the assembly of Arad in 1131 Béla's blindness prevented him from administering his kingdom without assistance.[17][18] He put his trust in his wife and her brother, Beloš.[18] Both royal and private charters from Béla's reign emphasize Qeen Helena's preeminent role in the decision-making process, proving that the king regarded his wife as his co-ruler.[19] According to the Illuminated Chronicle, Queen Helena ordered, at "an assembly of the realm near Arad"[20] in the spring or summer of the year of 1131, the slaughter of all noblemen who were accused of having suggested the blinding of her husband to King Coloman.[17][21] Béla distributed the goods of the executed magnates between the newly established Arad Chapter and the early 11th-century Óbuda Chapter.[22] Béla's was on good terms with the Holy Roman Empire, jeopardizing the interests of Boleslaw III of Poland who had been waging war on the empire.[23] The Polish monarch decided to support a pretender to the Hungarian crown, named Boris.[23] Boris was born to King Coloman's second wife, Euphemia of Kiev after his mother was repudiated on charge of adultery.[17] After Boris had arrived in Poland, a number of Hungarian noblemen joined him.[24] Others sent messengers to Boris "to invite him that he should come and with their help claim the kingdom form himself",[25] according to the Illuminated Chronicle.[26][24] Accompanied by Polish and Rus' reinforcements, Boris broke into Hungary in the summer of 1132.[24] Béla entered into an alliance with Leopold III, Margrave of Austria.[27] Before launching a counter-attack against Boris, Béla convoked a council on the river Sajó.[24] The Illuminated Chronicle relates that the king asked "the eminent men of Hungary" who were present "if they knew whether" Boris "was a bastard or the son of King Coloman".[25][28] The king's partisans attacked and murdered all those who proved to be "disloyal and divided in their minds"[25] during the meeting.[29] Boris, who thought that the majority of the Hungarian lords support his claim, in vain sent one of his partisans to Béla's camp to incite the king's retinue to mutiny.[29] [Samson] proposed to go to the assembly of the King and there openly and publicly insult him. All approved and [Boris] himself, misled by empty hope, gave him great thanks; for he wanted to complete what he had begun, and he thought that after the King had been thus insulted the kingdom would be his. The King had taken up his station near the river [Sajó], and as he sat in his tent with his nobles and soldiers, behold, [Samson] entered and said to the King: "Vile dog, what are you doing with the kingdom? It is better that your lord [Boris] have the kingdom and for your to live in your monastery, as your father did." There was commotion among the nobles of the realm, and Johannes, the son of Otto, the King's notary ... , said to Count Bud: "Why are we waiting? Why do we not seize him?" As they made to seize him, he hastily leapt upon a horse and fled. —The Hungarian Illuminated Chronicle[30] Béla attempted to convince the Polish monarch to stop supporting the pretender.[31] However, Boleslaw remained loyal to Boris.[32] In the decisive battle, which was fought on the river Sajó on 22 July, the Hungarian and Austrian troops defeated Boris and his allies.[23][33] Expansion (1132–1139)[edit] Boleslaw III of Poland could not assist Boris after the Battle of the Sajó.[33] Béla's allies—Soběslav I of Bohemia and Volodimirko of Peremyshl—invaded Poland in each year between 1132 and 1135.[23][33] Soběslav regularly—in 1133, 1134, 1137, and 1139—visited Béla's court.[34] The Czech monarch even persuaded Lothar III, Holy Roman Emperor to force Boleslaw III to abandon Boris and recognize Béla's rule in Hungary in August 1135.[33][35] Béla's seal

The seal of Béla II Hungary adopted an expansionist policy after the total fiasco of Boris's attempts to dethrone Béla.[34] The chronicler Thomas the Archdeacon relates that Gaudius, who became Archbishop of Split in 1136, "enjoyed great favor with the kings of Hungary," and "often visited their court".[36][37] The report suggests that Split accepted Béla II's suzerainty around 1136, but this interpretation of the sources is not universally accepted by historians.[37][34] The exact circumstances surrounding the submission of Bosnia are unknown, but the region seems to have accepted Béla's suzerainty without resistance by 1137.[38] Historian John V. A. Fine writes that the northeastern regions of the province formed part of Queen Helena's dowry.[18] The Hungarian army penetrated into the valley of the river Rama, a tributary of the Neretva River, in about 1137.[33][17] Although Béla assumed the title King of Rama in token of the new conquest, the permanent occupation of the region is not proven.[17] Hungarian troops participated in a campaign Grand Prince Yaropolk II of Kiev launched against Vsevolod of Kiev in 1139.[34][39] Béla strengthened his alliance with the Holy Roman Empire.[34] For this purpose, he gave financial support to Otto of Bamberg's missions among the Pomeranians and arranged the engagement of his daughter, Sophia with Henry, son of the new German king, Conrad III in June 1139.[34] Last years (1139–1141)[edit] Béla's denar

Béla's denar Béla became a drunkard in his last years, according to the Hungarian chronicles.[17] His courtiers take advantage of his drunkenness to receive grants from him.[40] When he was in an alcoholic stupor, he sometimes ordered the execution of innocent men.[40] Béla died "on the Ides of February, a Thursday"[41]—13 February—1141.[40] He was buried in the Székesfehérvár Cathedral.[40] After King Bela had been established in his rule of the kingdom, he indulged himself much with wine. His courtiers found that whatever they asked of the King in his drunkenness he would grant, and after his drunkenness he could not take it baks. In his drunkenness he delivered Poch and Saul, who were in religious orders, into the hands of their enemies, and they were killed without cause. —The Hungarian Illuminated Chronicle[42] Family[edit]

[show]Ancestors of Béla II of Hungary[43][44][45][46] Béla married his wife Helena upon the initiation of his cousin, King Stephen II at the turn of 1128 and 1129.[47] Helena was a daughter of Uroš I of Rascia and his wife, Anna whose origin is uncertain.[47] Queen Helena gave birth to at least six children.[48] The first of them, the future King Géza II of Hungary, was born in 1130.[1] Three brothers—Ladislaus, Stephen and Álmos—followed him in the early 1130s.[1] The first daughter of the royal couple, Sophia was born around 1135; she died as a nun in Admont Abbey after her engagement with Henry of Germany was broken.[49] Béla II's youngest daughter, Gertrud, who was born in about 1140, became the wife of Mieszko III of Poland.[50] The following family tree presents Béla's ancestors and some of his relatives who are mentioned in the article.[51]

Sophia*

Géza I

unnamed Synadene*

Felicia of Sicily

Coloman

Eufemia of Kiev

Álmos

Predslava of Kiev

(?)

Sophia

Stephen II

Boris Kalamanos

Béla the Blind

Helena of Rascia

Saul

Géza II

Ladislaus II

Stephen IV

Álmos

Sophia

Gertrud

Mieszko III of Poland

Kings of Hungary

Whether Géza's first or second wife was his children's mother is uncertain.